Monday, 4 August 2014

Today, we have a huge selection of television channels to
suit our entertainment needs, but every so often a television show or televised
event occurs that captures everyone’s attention. Some of these shows may be
classic moments in drama, great sporting events or one-off specials.

It is estimated that Australians watch roughly 92 hours of
television per month according to the final quarter of 2013, which shows a
marked increase in the viewing times across all ages. Since the advent of
smartphones and the internet, many broadcasters feared that they would move
away from traditional television viewing, but in fact, these extra screens
around the home have been used to complement their viewing pleasure.

Increase in Digital TV Antenna Services

The uptake of digital television has played a big role in
allowing more people to watch traditional terrestrial television, with all of
the added benefits that digital television brings. More people are employing
digital TV antenna installations to upgrade their old analogue systems, and with
a range of satellite and cable television solutions to choose from, viewership
has also improved.

This huge boost in viewers has seen a boost in ratings for
some of the most popular television shows currently broadcast. The most popular
of which tend to be big sporting events that pop up once or twice per calendar
year, and allow all people of all ages to enjoy the celebration of these
national and sometimes international sporting events.

Big Sporting Events and Season Finales

Some of the biggest sporting events throughout the calendar
are the F1 Australian Grand Prix which brings in huge numbers due to its
locality, The Australian Open which draws huge ratings figures – the 2005 Open
Men’s Singles Finals inspired over 4 million viewers to tune in, as well as
traditional season finale shows such as Masterchef and The Voice.

These special one-off or season finales have always drawn
large rating figures over the years, but when you consider the increase of
viewership due to the increase in the numbers of people having televisions and
multiple television homes, these figures really increase.

The Big-Hitters

AFL and Rugby play a big role in garnering the interest of a
large quantity of viewers, with the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final drawing in just
over 4 million viewers. State of Origin games are high up the list of some of
the most watched televised sporting events, with Game 1 of 2014 already
bringing in well over 4 million viewers who enjoyed this engrossing game.

The 2005 AFL Grand Final managed to draw in a large number
of viewers, thanks to the increasing audience of AFL games to a major-league
figure of 13 million viewers. This is by far the largest audience figure, and
one to look out for this year. Could the 2014 AFL Grand Final garner more interest
this year? We will have to wait and see.